Today Arbella Stuart is Elizabeth I's forgotten heir, yet during her lifetime she was raised in the belief that she might one day be Queen.

Her life can be viewed as tragically romantic, but is there much more to her story then that? What agency did Arbella wield, or was she completely controlled by the forces around her?

In this episode, Chief Historian Tracy Borman is joined by historian Sarah Gristwood to explore the forgotten story of Arbella Stuart.

Learn more about the life of Arbella Stuart.

Guy Fawkes, the man behind the iconic rhyme has just failed to light the fuse of the Gunpowder Plot, one of the most notable plots in British history.

In this second episode of our two-part series, Curators Charles Farris, Brett Dolman and Alden Gregory talk through the failure of the plot and what relevance this has to us today. Why do we still celebrate it?

In November 1605, a group of religious radicals attempted to assassinate King James I, the man they deemed responsible for their oppression. Guy Fawkes was meant to light the fuse, bringing the Houses of Parliament down in a catastrophic explosion. He failed.

But what drove him and the other plotters to this drastic action?

In this re-released episode, hear from curators Charles Farris, Alden Gregory, and Brett Dolman, as they discuss the context of religious persecution and political discontent that led to the Gunpowder Plot.

Discover more about Guys Fawkes and the Tower of London.